II08-1956-TOM SWIFT in the Caves of Nuclear Fire by Victor Appleton II

Author:Victor Appleton II [pseud.] [Appleton, Victor II]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Published: 1956-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

13. AN ANGRY LEOPARD

THE morning dragged on. In the infirmary the medicine man continued his muttering and at intervals gave Hanson more of the potion.

"How is Arv?" Tom asked Doc Simpson at noontime.

There was little change and Tom was heartsick. "If anything happens to Arv I'll never forgive myself. I feel responsible for his condition. If it hadn't been for my expedition, he'd be safe in Shopton."

Late in the afternoon, the tension was lifted somewhat when Doc Simpson reported that Hanson was no longer delirious, but was sleeping soundly. "That's a good sign," he said.

From the Mabawiki village came the steady beat of tom-toms accompanied by chanting. Craig explained that the friendly natives believed Hanson's illness had been instigated by the fire god in the mountain who wanted no interference. They were trying to appease him with their prayers.

Tom felt a lump in his throat at this show of camaraderie. No matter what religious beliefs a more educated person might have, he could not show more sincerity or faith than these simple tribesmen.

Outside the Sky Queen groups of awed natives stood, waiting patiently for news of Hanson. At six o'clock Doc Simpson suddenly stood up and leaned over his patient. "I think Arv's coming out of it!" he whispered hopefully.

Word spread through the ship. Everyone on board rushed to Hanson's bedside. The stricken man moved, lifting one hand to his face. A moment later he opened his eyelids part way, then closed them again.

"Arv!" Simpson called softly. "Glad you're awake."

"Doc? Doc Simpson? Wh-what happened?" Hanson asked, opening his eyes wide.

"You were poisoned, but you're all right now. How do you feel?"

Hanson managed a wry smile. "Like I just swam the Atlantic Ocean underwater," he said.

"You'll be as good as new in a few days, thanks to this man here," said the doctor.

For the first time Hanson noticed the native who had risen from the side of the cot and was edging toward the door. When Doc Simpson announced that he had saved Arv Hanson's life, Tom wrung the medicine man's hand fervently and Craig thanked him profusely in the Bantu dialect.

"Wait!" Hanson called as the healer started out the door.

But the man moved off without a word, a solemn expression on his face as if he were in a trance. When he reached the ground, he stalked off, his tribesmen following.

With the tension gone, everyone relaxed. Chow's jovial spirits returned. "I'll rustle up one o' my specialty meals fer Hanson," he declared.

Bud grinned. "Give the poor guy a chance to recover first. We don't want him to have a relapse!"

Chow gave Bud a dark look and stamped out of the infirmary so vigorously that the giant plane seemed to rattle. "I'll cook you some caterpillars fer your breakfast!" he threatened.

But when that mealtime arrived the next day, he served orange juice, bacon, waffles, and tall glasses of iced cocoa in preparation for Tom's journey with Bud and Craig to the mysterious mountain. He also packed a kit of food to last for a couple of days if they should decide to stay away.

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